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Charter schools slapped with new $10.5 million penalty by state Education Department     OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (Tulsa World) — Epic Charter Schools has been hit with another big financial penalty by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. For the second year in a row, education officials say Epic’s own spending reports to the state reflect administrative costs well above statutory limits for all public schools and the school remains out of compliance with mandatory school cost accounting. The state’s largest school system was notified in a Wednesday letter that it is being as...

Oklahoman A member of the state agency overseeing virtual education is suing that same agency to overturn his disqualification from discussions and votes on Epic Charter Schools. Mathew Hamrick filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in Oklahoma County District Court. Hamrick, of Oklahoma City, is a member and former chairperson of the board. He is also the chief procurement officer for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Current Chairperson Robert Franklin and members Barry Beauchamp and Brandon Tatum vot...

Board addresses Epic’s finances By: Jennifer Palmer Oklahoma Watch April 15, 2021 An Epic Charter School administrative office building is seen on 122nd Street in northwest Oklahoma City. (Photo by Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) The board of the state’s largest online charter school system approved a new deal it hopes will settle a contract dispute with the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. The proposal, approved after a nearly seven-hour board meeting that concluded after midnight Tuesday, would make significant changes to the school’s financial procedures and relations...

Oklahoman An Oklahoma City charter school leader said an investigative audit ordered for his schools is an unwarranted attack.  Chris Brewster said he was blindsided Monday night when Oklahoma City Public Schools requested a state audit of Santa Fe South Charter Schools, where he is superintendent. The Oklahoma City school district has authorized Santa Fe South’s charter contract for 19 years. Brewster said district officials have never approached him about financial concerns, including in the days leading up to the audit request.  “This is what infuriates me,” Brewster s...

Oklahoman The Oklahoma City Board of Education requested an investigative audit of Santa Fe South Charter Schools on Monday, a significant measure after the charter school system’s finances first came into question last week.  The school board requested an in-depth audit of Santa Fe South for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years and “any other years deemed necessary.”  As the oversight agency over Santa Fe South, the school board has the authority to ask the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s Office to conduct a forensic audit of the charter school system.   This...